Imagine waking up on a random day of the week, looking down at your feet, and seeing you have shrunk to the size of a leprechaun. Running over to the mirror in fear and realizing you are not just the size of one but you have turned into one. There is a long red beard on your face and a black top hat with a gold buckle on top of your head, you are wearing black loafers with a gold buckle on each of them, and a green suit. As a leprechaun, you get recognized one day a year- St. Patrick’s Day.
When people think of St. Patrick’s Day they typically think of leprechauns, rainbows, the color green, and pots of gold. People celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in many ways from parties to festivals, to parades and Celtic dancing, to dying the Chicago River green. But while celebrating, many people probably do not think about the history behind it or why we actually celebrate this day.
As reported by History.com, the holiday is celebrated in honor of the death of Saint Patrick. Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle in the fifth century. The holiday has been celebrated on March 17 since the Irish reserved it as a religious holiday over a thousand years ago. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, music, dancing, drinking, feasting on the traditional meal of bacon and cabbage, and a lot of green. The holiday falls during the Christian season of Lent, where Irish families typically go to church in the morning and then celebrate in the evening.
National Geographic Kids’, Rose Davidson said, “Saint Patrick was not born in Ireland and was not actually Irish.” He was born in Roman Britain, was later kidnapped, and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. When Patrick was there, he became interested in Christianity. Once he escaped life as a slave back to Britain, he later returned to Ireland in 432 C.E. He started teaching others about religion. St. Patrick is said to have converted many of Ireland’s residents to Christianity.
There have been many myths that have spread about Saint Patrick. One example is that he created the Holy Trinity. Another is that he is associated with the four-leaf clover which is actually false; he used a three-leaf clover or a shamrock as a symbol when he preached. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, another myth is that Saint Patrick chased out all the snakes of Ireland. This myth is false because the creatures never even lived in the country to begin with because the ocean seems to keep many of the creatures found around the world off the island. The last myth that is infamous with St. Patrick’s Day is the leprechaun. As reported by the History Cooperative’s Rittika Dhar, the leprechaun is a tiny mischievous man who guards a pot of gold and is said to have been related to the Tuatha De Danann of Irish mythology.
The holiday has been famed throughout the world. Each country has different traditions and ways of celebrating. One American tradition is dyeing the Chicago River green, leprechauns dancing, wearing green, going to parties, drinking green beverages, and hosting parades. Overall, St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated for centuries now, and it will continue to be celebrated throughout time. The traditions may change over the years but the reason will remain the same. Did you wear green this past St. Patrick’s Day? If not, be sure to wear green next St. Patrick’s Day.
